Minutes of the 62nd Council Meeting Held on 30th August, 2012, at Lex House, Lusaka
14.00 hours (Lusaka Time)
Present:
Name / Company / PositionCOUNCILLORS:
Alex Matthews / MMG Zambia Ltd / Chairman/MoMEWD-GRZ Liaison Communication & Cadastre Affairs Sub Committee
Andrew Goode / Denison Mines / Secretary &Uranium Explorers & Producers
Sub Committee Leader
Julian Green / GeoQuest Ltd / Website Development & Maintenance
Sub Committee Leader
Wiscort Banda / African Energy Resources / Publicity & Public Relations Sub Committee Leader
Nic J Money / Individual / Oil, Gas & Coal sub Committee Leader
Osbert Sikazwe / UNZA School of Mines / Dean/ Affiliate/Training Career Development Sub Committee Leader
Marc Kalemba / FSSMAZ / President/Affiliate
Edith Lukwesa / AZMEC / Office Manager
APOLOGIES:
Gilbert Temba / BHP Billiton / President/ MoMEWD-GRZ Liaison Communication & Cadastre Affairs Sub Committee Leader
Willie Sweta / Zambezi Resources/Mwembeshi / PP/MoMEWD-GRZ Liaison Communication & Cadastre Affairs Sub Committee
Geoffrey Mulenga / Blackthorn Resources / Treasurer – Administration, Finance & Membership Sub Committee Leader
Roger Staley / Barrick/Lumwana / Member/Training, Career Development Sub Committee
Paul Hardy / Ausdrill Zambia / Training & Career Development Sub
Committee Leader
1.
/Introduction
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and called the meeting to order at 14.20 hours.· Summary Noting and Adoption of Minutes of the 61st Council Meeting – Minutes of the last Council meeting were read, corrected and adopted, proposed by Andrew Goode and seconded by Wiscort Banda.
· Matters Arising Previous Minutes: – It was proposed and agreed that any matters arising from the previous minutes be discussed with the main agenda items.
2.
/ MoMEWD – GRZ Liaison Communications & Cadastre Affairs Sub Committee· AZMEC / CMZ / MoMEWD Proposed Amendments to the Mines & Minerals Development Act 2008 : it was reported that efforts to try and organize a meeting with the Permanent Secretary to discuss outstanding issues relating to the proposed amendment of the 2008 Act, Mining Cadastre Unit, etc, etc, have failed. A debate around the many issues surrounding the Ministry ensued and it was proposed and greed that a letter be sent directly to the Minister requesting for an urgent appointment to go and discuss these issues as AZMEC and once this has been secured invite the Chamber to come along to the meeting. (Edith to draft a letter for President’s signature).
· ZEMA Issues: it was again reported that efforts to secure a meeting with the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, have failed. After a lengthy discussion, it was proposed and agreed that a hit-list with all outstanding cases from the members be prepared then request a follow up a meeting with the Minister. . (Julian Green to re-circulate email to members and come up with hit list).
· Cadastre Affairs: the meeting was informed that the MAC committee sat a week ago and they have a huge backlog of applications which accumulated during the moratorium to deal with. It was also reported that several decisions were referred back to the Geological Survey. With regards to the newspaper notice on the ban of mining rights, official letters have been sent and received by most companies, but effectively there has been no communication from the Ministry to the companies that have communicated on the position of their licences. The meeting was also informed that the government is talking of using the bidding system. A lengthy debate ensued on this issue and it was proposed and agreed that :-
i. Follow up with the World Bank contact (Mr Anwar Ravat) and arrange a meeting with the Country Director to discuss the issues surrounding the functions of the Mining Cadastre Unit, etc. (Roger Staley to assist with arranging this meeting).
ii. Discuss these issues during the proposed meeting with the Minister if possible use example of Mimbula Fitula as a case in point regarding conflicts of 2 licences being issued on one licence area.
3.
/ Finance, Membership & Administration Sub CommitteeFINANCE REPORT
DATE
DATE / 31/07/2012 / % / 29/08/2012 / % / MATURITY
BANK BALANCE :
US$ / 84,704.43 / 84,679.43
ZMK / 172,423,632.78 / 171,615,103.00
TBs (ZMK) / 0
PABS INVESTMENT
91 DAYS / 131,582,481.48 / 12 / 131,582,481.48 / 12 / 09/10/2012
91 DAYS / 112,000,000.00 / 12.5 / 112,000,000.00 / 12.5 / 03/09/2012
It was also reported that due to BOZ ban on transactions in foreign currency payments, AZMEC will suffer higher exchanges losses during the current financial year 2012/2013.
· OFFICE ACCOMMODATION: it was reported that the landlord has offered AZMEC to stay beyond September. This issue was discussed and it felt that as much as we would like to stay at the current premises which is centrally located and has easy access to important government ministries, etc, but with the insecurities surrounding this building it was proposed that the offer at Mpile House be pursued. (Andrew Goode to follow up on Mpile House).
· ZIMEC 2012 Funds: the issue of sharing of the funds raised from the conference was discussed again. It was also proposed that perhaps some of this money can go towards airing the Mining Film Documentary. (Edith to get quotations from Media houses, ZNBC, MOVI and Northwestern TV).
· New Office Personnel: the issue of employing another member of staff at AZMEC was discussed again and it was felt that this new person could take the role of assisting with Bulletin production, adverts, arrange media meetings, website updates, etc, etc. (Edith to prepare Job Description and re-circulate earlier email to members for comments).
· New Member: it was reported that an Associate member has come on board, Kellogg Brown & Roots Ltd.
4.
/ Training & Career Development Sub Committee· Proposed Courses by Snowden: the Sub Committee leader informed the meeting that the response from his email to the general membership has only been received from four companies so far who showed interest in the Technical Report Writing and Successful Sampling & QAQC of Assay Data. It was emphasized that the official feedback from members was very vital in order to run this course successfully. Timing was also of the essence in order to attract more people. This issue was extensively debated and it was proposed and agreed that the email be re-circulated to the members and also ask Snowden for tentative dates but proposed dates around second week of February or first week of March 2013. (Osbert Sikazwe to do the above).
Occupational Health & Safety Training: It was proposed that Paul Hardy should be reminded to put together a course structure on occupational health and safety for circulation to the general membership.
AZMEC Members Field Trips: Julian Green reported that he had contacted Lafarge who are willing to host a half day visit during the second half of September or 4th week of October. (Julian Green to follow up and confirm suitable dates).
5.
/ Publicity & Public Relations Sub Committee:· ZIMEC 2012: as in 3 above.
· AZMEC Bulletin: it was agreed that the balance due to exchange losses on the amounts paid by AME Trade for the 4th Edition be settled by AZMEC. The production of the bulletin was extensively debated and it proposed and agreed that:
i. Nic j Money to continue as Technical Editor and be the lead person.
ii. Production of the bulletin is out sourced to professionals.
iii. Be run as a bi-annual.
iv. Get quotations from professional companies/editors on cost of production, etc.
v. Invite companies to advertise in the bulletin.
vi. Bulletin to be self-funding.
(Julian Green to follow up with the publishers).
· Mining Film/Documentary Production: this issue was again extensively discussed and it was proposed and agreed that due to the amounts of money invested in the production of this film, it should be aired in order to achieve its intended purpose. It was proposed that the Chamber should be consulted as to whether they would like to come on board. It was also proposed as reported in 3 above that some of the ZIMEC 2012 funds could go towards the airing of this documentary. (Edith to obtain rates from media houses, e.g. ZNBC, Muvi and North-Western TV).
· Wiscort Banda the Sub Committee Leader informed the meeting that he will not continue sit on the AZMEC Council after end of September 2012.
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/ Website Development & Maintenance Sub Committee· General Update: no report for this meeting.
7.
/ Uranium Explorers and Producers Sub Committee· General Update: no change, prices continue to go down.
· Council of Churches: it was reported that AZMEC has not yet replied to their letter due to the magnitude of the information required. This issue was debated and it was felt that GRZ should be engaged during this process through the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines. The Sub Committee Leader will work with them on the Committee. (Andrew Goode to prepare reply).
8.
/ Oil, Gas & Coal Sub Committee· General Update: no new information on this frontier from the Ministry and on the ground. The bidding system was also alluded to.
9.
/ Chamber of Mines· General Update: no representation from the Chamber at this meeting.
· Kalulushi Core Shed/Data Archive in General: it was reported that the proposed meeting between the Chamber and AZMEC to discuss the operations and future of Kalulushi Core Shed did not take place. Julian Green gave a brief background of how the Core shed and Data Archive came under the custody of the Chamber from the then ZCCM. He also went on to inform the meeting that AZMEC has proposed that they sign a management agreement with the Chamber and come up with an Action Plan to save both Core and Data Archive. The meeting was also informed that there are intentions by ZCCM-IH to repossess the core shed and data archive. This issue was extensively debated and it was proposed and agreed that this be followed up with both the Chamber and ZCCM-IH to establish the status. It was also agreed that the way forward was that the proposed failed meeting with the Chamber should take place.
10.
/ Federation of Small Scale Mining Association of Zambia· General Update: it was reported that the baseline study project with ZCCM-IH has been completed in Southern Province. They will tour Luapula and finally end up with Easter Province.
· EEU Road Fund: it was reported that following the advice from AZMEC, a letter was sent to RDFA and a reply was received which was followed by a meeting with the Director. The meeting was very positive and productive and work has since commenced with Eastern which will then be followed by Southern Province.
· FSSMAZ Constitution: it was reported that a consultant has been identified and hired to assist with the preparation of the constitution. This is on condition that the consultant assists in sourcing funding for this project. The issue of capacity building which is being amended during the constitution making process was also alluded to.
· FSSMAZ Membership Structures and Operations: this issue was discussed with reference to operations of how large scale and small scale licence holder on same areas can work together through the two organisations.
11.
/ UNZA School of Mines· General Update: it was reported that a meeting took place with ZCCM-IH on 29th August to discuss skills development. ZCCM-IH has agreed to support skills training. (Osbert Sikazwe to forward brief report).
· National Symposium: this will be held in November 2012 and so far K80 million has been received from Mopani Copper Mines towards the organization of the symposium. AZMEC has been invited to participate.
12.
/ Geological Society of Zambia· General Update: Osbert Sikazwe informed the meeting that the committee has managed to retrieve the Act of Parliament Bill and this is being looked at internally to see if it can be improved upon and incorporate anything that needs to be included. The issues relating to the operations of EIZ were also discussed.
13.
/ Any Other Matters; No any other matters were reported.14.
/ Date of Next Meeting· The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 27th September, 2012, at 14.00 hours, at AZMEC Secretariat, Lusaka.
The Chairman thanked the councillors for attending the meeting, the meeting ended at 16.30 hours.
Signed ………………….. Signed ………………..
Chairman Secretary
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